Compare towns

Northbridge vs Whitman vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureNorthbridgeWhitmanWindham
People
Population
16,458
15,295Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Northbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Northbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$108,933±$14k
35% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$5,824Highest
87% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #226 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA #95 of 133 in ME
School district Northbridge Whitman-Hanson RSU 14
High school in town Northbridge High None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
—
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.